TSN can lick my balls! Their Power Rankings this week aren't quite as insane as last week (Preds ranked 20th last week is proof Canada hates us). I'm shocked they actually listed us ahead of Edmonton this time.

I also love how the Wings just "mailed in" that loss last night because they sat Legace, Lidstrom, and Zetterburg. Why not go ahead and blame it on Datsyuk being out too. Oh wait, we were without Vokoun, Sullivan, Zidlicky, Perreault, and Witt. It's not even worth mentioning Hordichuk and Fiddler sat too. Was it a pointless game in the standings? Definitely. Do I believe for a second the Wings wanted to lose to us with the scrub lines we were running and a career minor leaguer goalie? Not a chance.

No one ever just "mails one in."  The only motivation the Wings had was getting out of that game with no injuries.  Everyone plays to win but if you think the Wings brought their A game then you are sadly mistaken amigo.  The Preds needed that win going into the playoffs, the Wings did not.  The Wings just got into serious penalty trouble in the 2nd and considering we were without so many key guys, it was the difference in the game.  I could care less.  The games that matter for my boys start Friday at 7pm EST against Edmonton. 

S'ok, I'm living in the past where they set the seeds and it went from there.  You knew which of two teams you were playing in the next round.  Darn new fangled NHL crap.  **** Bettman

Actually it's been that way for awhile now.  They changed it right around the time they went to generic conferences and the top 3 seeds going to division champs thing.

West quarters
Wings over Oilers in 6
Avs over Stars in 7
Flames over Ducks in 6
Preds over Sharks in 6

East quarters
Sens over Lightning in 5
Hurricanes over Canadiens in 6
Devils over Rangers in 4
Flyers over Sabres in 7

West semis
Wings over Flames in 7
Avs over Preds in 6

East semis
Hurricanes over Sens in 6
Flyers over Devils in 6

West Finals
Avs over Wings in 7

East Finals
Flyers over Canes in 6

Stanley Cup Finals
Avs over Flyers in 6

Not to be a stickler, but like I said on Brent's picks, the top remaining seeds get the lowest remaining seeds, so everything after your 1st round picks is incorrect and impossible.  

In the West, the #1 Wings would actually play the #7 Avs in the 2nd round, #3 Calgary would face #4 Nashvillle.  In the East, the #1 Sens would face the #5 Flyers and the #2 Canes would face the #3 Devils.  

Sorry, just had to point out the obvious.

I like the way that looks Brent, though I've never been big on PIMs.  We can vote on that one.  I'm down to run the H2H league and you can commish the point league and we can always have whoever wants to compete in both since we all know each other here. 

Yahoo's default settings for the H2H leagues include these categories:

Goals
Assists
+/-
PIM
Power play points
Game winning goals
Goalie wins
Goals against average
Save percentage
Shutouts

Now obviously you can change those categories around and add or subtract what you want.  We'd put that to a vote obviously. 

As for the roster, the default setting is 2 each of C, LW and RW, 4 Dmen, 2 goalies, 4 bench spots and in IR spot.  I will be adding a flex position though and that isn't up for vote.  The only thing up for vote would be an additional flex spot should people want to have that.  We can also add a bench spot but I really don't want to see anymore than 5 bench spots because then you see hoarding occur. 

Then from there we draft like we did here and instead of accumulating points for goals and wins, for example, you face 1 team per week and your totals for the selected categories add up and your record that week goes toward your overall record.  If Brent beats Rob 6 categories to 4 that week, Brent's record is 6-4 and Rob's is 4-6.  Pretty self explanatory. 

It's gonna be an interesting playoffs with the rule changes and all.  I don't want to sound like a homer, but I just see the Wings going all the way.  If the refs stay consistent, special teams will be huge and the Wings PP is downright scary.  Their PK ain't bad either.  But I've had high hopes for the Wings before only to see them tripped up by a lesser team.  Bottom line is anything can and usually does happen this time of year. 

Having said that, time for playoff predictions:

West quarters
Wings over Oilers in 4
Stars over Avs in 7
Ducks over Flames in 7
Sharks over Preds in 6

East quarters
Sens over Lightning in 5
Canadiens over Hurricanes in 7
Devils over Rangers in 7
Sabres over Flyers in 6

West semis
Wings over Ducks in 6
Sharks over Stars in 7

East semis
Sens over Canadiens in 5
Sabres over Devils in 6

West Finals
Wings over Sharks in 6

East Finals
Sabres over Sens in 6

Stanley Cup Finals
Wings over Sabres in 6

http://www.nhl.com/news/2006/04/269348.html

I guess the rule changes worked.

Going into the playoffs I'm gonna pull for the Bruins.  They're a team I've always liked...  New Jersey I don't mind either.  I'll stick with an East team just because though, either way.

You realize the B's didn't make it right?